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Tibetan Medicine Programs

Introduction

This is a project that we support, as part of our Foundation’s ongoing efforts to enable communities to access affordable, effective healthcare, improving their overall standard of living. This project is a brainchild of Kyabgön Phakchok Rinpoche, and aims to provide training in Tibetan medicine to interested members of the ordained sangha as well as villagers from remote areas in Nepal who do not have access to quality healthcare treatment.

The students will learn all aspects of Tibetan Medicine in traditional setting, including the making of medicine. This will enable them to serve and operate independently, especially in remote areas, where the doctors will have to make medicine from scratch using the available herbs in their surrounding area.

After undergoing this training, these Tibetan doctors will then go on to serve the people at their respective monasteries and villagers, the wider community or at the Vajravarahi Healthcare Clinic in Chapagaoun and Traditional Buddhist Sorig Herbal Medicine Clinic at Amrita House, Boudhanath; thus providing continuing healthcare treatment to their respective communities.

We currently have 15 students, comprising of laypeople and ordained monks and nuns, who are aiming to complete this rigorous seven-year training program. Sponsoring this program allows you to support up to fifteen students or more at one go, that would mean an equivalent of giving a medical scholarship for fifteen students, for this seven year program. That is just the direct benefit. Indirectly, your contribution will be able to help thousands, when these professional doctors graduate and go on to serve the sick and needy in Nepal.

Sponsorship of Acupuncture Program

Basic Goodness Foundation is providing a further three-year full scholarship to Sunita (previously staff member at Vajravarahi Healthcare) in a certified acupuncture course. The course is located in Jorpati, Kathmandu and is three years long. After graduating, they will work full-time in Vajravarahi Healthcare Clinic’s Chapagaoun for two years helping provide local patients with much-needed acupuncture treatment. Sponsoring this program allows you to support one student or part of the student necessities during the course such a food, accommodation, transport, educational supplies and college fees.

Including food, accommodation, transport, educational supplies and college fees.

In a year…

USD$3,253 per student per year.

Including food, accommodation, transport, educational supplies and college fees.

Interview with the students

Dhudul Rinchen, 22 years old

Where do you come from and where do you live right now?

I come from Rasuwa and right now I live in Boudha.

Can you explain some things about your background? (Any brother and sisters, father and mother, their occupations…)

I have ten members in my family including myself, my father, my mother, two older sisters, two younger sisters, one older brother and two younger brothers. My father and mother are farmers.

How did you find out about this training program (Tibetan medicine or acupuncture)?

I found about this training program from my brothers.

Why did you choose to join?

Since my childhood I liked helping sick people so if I had to help them I should know how to help them so then I chose to join Tibetan medicine.

How do you feel so far with the things that you have learnt?

I feel so good with what I have learnt because it is very helpful.

What do you plan to do after you’ve graduated? Do you plan to practice in your village or work in Kathmandu or other areas?

After I graduate I plan to practice. I want to help poor people. If I can I will work anywhere.

How do you think that your medical knowledge will benefit your community?

I am not sure but if I give my best to learn about it then I think I can benefit our community and I will give my best to learn.

What were you doing before joining this training?

I was a monk at Chapagaoun Monastery.

Tsewang Choden, 21 years old

Where do you come from and where do you live right now?

I came from Arya Tara School in Pharping. Now I live at Boudha Tinchuli.

Can you explain some things about your background? (Any brother and sisters, father and mother, their occupations…)

I have five family members including me. I have father, mother and two siblings. My little sister is also a nun at Arya Tara School. My younger brother is studying 9th grade at Pokhara. My mother is a house wife and a farmer.

How did you find out about this training program (Tibetan medicine or acupuncture)?

I found about this Tibetan medicine course from Ani Choying Drolma and I was selected along with two friends to be the students out of many nuns.

Why did you choose to join?

I chose to join this course because it seemed very beneficial to all beings. And this is our culture and our religion. And it seems very interesting.

How do you feel so far with the things that you have learnt?

I feel so great and happy to learn.

What do you plan to do after you’ve graduated? Do you plan to practice in your village or work in Kathmandu or other areas?

I plan to support and help patients in Kathmandu. I will gradually, do this in villages and other areas. Later on I plan to establish a big hospital and to give treatment to cure any kind of disease.

How do you think that your medical knowledge will benefit your community?

I think my medical knowledge will benefit our community by giving them the courage to live even after suffering from intense disease.

Jampal Dorjey, 22 years old

What were you doing before joining this training?

I was finishing my 8th grade final exam in my nunnery at Pharping.

Where do you come from and where do you live right now?

I am from Mugu and I live in Kathmandu.

Can you explain some things about your background? (Any brother and sisters, father and mother, their occupations…)

In my family, father is a farmer and my mother is a house wife. And my brother paints Thangka.

How did you find out about this training program (Tibetan medicine or acupuncture)?

This Tibetan medicine training program I heard from Kyabgön Phakchok Rinpoche.

Why did you choose to join?

I love to help people so that’s my aim and hobby.

How do you feel so far with the things that you have learnt?

I feel very good.

What do you plan to do after you’ve graduated? Do you plan to practice in your village or work in Kathmandu or other areas?

After I graduate, I will practice and help my villagers because there is not so many Health Posts.

How do you think that your medical knowledge will benefit your community?

I think my medical knowledge can benefit my community by treating them with compassion and good heart because health is wealth.

What were you doing before joining this training?

I was learning Buddhism before joining this training.

Karchung Lhama, 16 years old

Where do you come from and where do you live right now?

I am from Mustang and now I live in Chakrapath, Kathmandu.

Can you explain some things about your background? (any brother and sisters, father and mother, their occupations…)

I have 5 members in my family; my parents, my uncle, one younger brother and me. My parents are farmers. My uncle is a shepherd and my brother is in 7th grade.

How did you find out about this training program (Tibetan medicine or acupuncture)?

I found out about this program from my School’s Amchi (doctor) and teachers.

Why did you choose to join?

I chose to join because it was my parents dream to see me become an Amchi (doctor) and I want to help people because according to Amchi (doctor) I can help sick people.

How do you feel so far with the things that you have learnt?

I feel very happy with the things I have learnt.

What do you plan to do after you’ve graduated? Do you plan to practice in your village or work in Kathmandu or other areas?

I plan to work in Kathmandu after I graduate because in my village there are already two Amchies (doctors).

How do you think that your medical knowledge will benefit your community?

By my medical knowledge I will try to spread Tibetan medicine to other countries and with the money that I will get by treating them I will donate half to the Government Schools.

Tsewang Gyurmet, 20 years old

What were you doing before joining this training?

Before joining this, I was studying in Medical Center School.

Where do you come from and where do you live right now?

I came from Gorkha and now I live in Boudha.

Can you explain some things about your background? (Any brother and sisters, father and mother, their occupations…)

I have four family members; father, mother, a younger brother and me. My parents are farmers.

How did you find out about this training program (Tibetan medicine or acupuncture)?

My uncle told me about this program.

Why did you choose to join?

I like to learn Tibetan medicine and it is my lineage.

How do you feel so far with the things that you have learnt?

I just feel so good.

What do you plan to do after you’ve graduated? Do you plan to practice in your village or work in Kathmandu or other areas?

Now I don’t have any plan. After I have graduated I think I will practice in Nepal and abroad.

How do you think that your medical knowledge will benefit your community?

It will benefit our community by treating patients because we don’t have good hospitals and treatments in my village.

What were you doing before joining this training?

I was in 5th grade in my village and also was a farmer.

Tsultrim Rabsel, 21 years old

Where do you come from and where do you live right now?

I am from Rasuwa district around Nepal. Now I live in Riwoche Monastery.

Can you explain some things about your background? (Any brother and sisters, father and mother, their occupations…)

I have six members in family; father, my mother, an elder brother, two sisters and me. My father is a farmer and my mother is a housewife. My elder brother is married and he lives separately, my elder sister is helping to my mother and younger one is a student in 8th grade.

How did you find out about this training program (Tibetan medicine or acupuncture)?

When I was at Chapagaoun Monastery, our senior teacher gave us information about this training program.

Why did you choose to join?

Because at my village there is no good doctor and when people are sick they have to travel far for good hospitals and doctors. So I want to help my villagers and other poor people who cannot access to good doctors.

How do you feel so far with the things that you have learnt?

I feel very good because here I can learn without any problems and later on I can treat people.

What do you plan to do after you’ve graduated? Do you plan to practice in your village or work in Kathmandu or other areas?

After I graduate, I don’t have any plan yet to work in future because we aren’t sure about future. But about my thought, I think to help all villagers. I don’t have exact thought to work in Kathmandu or other areas but I would like to help people who are sick and ill.

How do you think that your medical knowledge will benefit your community?

I think that my medical knowledge will benefit our community by giving then good medicine and treatment by our good heart. If we can heal people’s illness then it will benefit our community.

What were you doing before joining this training?

I was monk at Chapagaoun Monastery I was learning dharma and Buddha’s knowledge.

Pema Yangdron, 18 years old

Where do you come from and where do you live right now?

I am from Gangra, upper Mustang and now I live at Chakrapath Kathmandu.

Can you explain some things about your background? (any brother and sisters, father and mother, their occupations…)

In my family, there are seven members. My Parents are farmers. I have two older sister, a younger sister, my parents , my uncle and me.

How did you find out about this training program (Tibetan medicine or acupuncture)?

I found out about this training program from my parents.

Why did you choose to join?

I chose to join because it’s my childhood dream and my parents like to see me as an Amchi (doctor). And also I am really happy with all the things I am learning.

How do you feel so far with the things that you have learnt?

I feel so glad with the things that I have learnt because I think it will be really good for all people who are suffering from diseases.

What do you plan to do after you’ve graduated? Do you plan to practice in your village or work in Kathmandu or other areas?

After I graduate, I plan to practice in my village. Because if I work there it will be really good for villagers as there is no Amchi (doctor). If they get sick they have to travel far for treatment.

How do you think that your medical knowledgewill benefit your community?

I think my medical knowledge will benefit the community because they will not need to go far for a treatment walking many hours. They can easily come to my home then I can do my best because it will be my duty.

What were you doing before joining this training?

I was studying in Mustang at school called Shree Jharkat Tibetan Traditional School.

Nyima Gyaltsen, 23 years old

Where do you come from and where do you live right now?

I am from Gorkha. I live in Boudha.

Can you explain some things about your background? (any brother and sisters, father and mother, their occupations…)

I have four members in my family. My father is a farmer, my mother is housewife and my brother is a painter.

How did you find out about this training program (Tibetanmedicine or acupuncture)?

My uncle told me about this training program.

Why did you choose to join?

Becausethere are no good doctors in my village.

How do you feel so far with the things that you have learnt?

Feels great to learn it.

What do you plan to do after you’ve graduated? Do you plan to practice in your village or work in Kathmandu or other areas?

After graduation, I will help poor people.

How do you think that your medical knowledge will benefit your community?

I think our medical knowledge will benefit our community by giving them well prepared medicine and treating them with the kind heart.

What were you doing before joining this training?

I was studying in my village before joining this training.

Tsultrim Wangmo, 23 years old

Where do you come from and where do you live right now?

I am from Dolpo. I live in Boudha.

Can you explain some things about your background? (any brother and sisters, father and mother, their occupations…)

I have seven family members. I have my mother, two brothers, and three sisters. They are Farmers.

How did you find out about this training program (Tibetan medicine or acupuncture)?

Our seniors told us about this program.

Why did you choose to join?

Because my father was an Amchi (doctor) and he told me to do it.

How do you feel so far with the things that you have learnt?

I feel great with the things that I have learnt.

What do you plan to do after you’ve graduated? Do you plan to practice in your village or work in Kathmandu or other areas?

When I graduate I want to research more about Tibetan Medicine and I’d like to help remote areas.

How do you think that your medical knowledge will benefit your community?

I think my medical knowledge will benefit the whole society and my community as well because there aren’t many Amchis (doctors) in my village.

What were you doing before joining this training?

I was studying in a Monastery.

Rigzen Tender, 23 years old

Where do you come from and where do you live right now?

I am from Dhading and I live in Boudha, Kathmandu.

Can you explain some things about your background? (any brother and sisters, father and mother, their occupations…)

I have six members; they are two younger brothers, an older brother, my mum, my dad and me. Their occupation is farming and my brothers are studying.

How did you find out about this training program (Tibetan medicine or acupuncture)?

I heard it from one of the senior monks.

Why did you choose to join?

Because I want to help people and I want to help poor people, needy people and I want to be a good Amchi (doctor).

How do you feel so far with the things that you have learnt?

I feel lucky and very good about what I have learnt and I am proud to have this chance to learn medicine. I feel very proud.

What do you plan to do after you’ve graduated? Do you plan to practice in your village or work in Kathmandu or other areas?

I plan to practice in Kathmandu after I graduate. I want to help people and research more about this.

How do you think that your medical knowledge will benefit your community?

I think my medical knowledge will benefit my community by giving good medicine to patient and providing one good clinic.

What were you doing before joining this training?

I was studying Tibetan in a monastery before joining this training.

Tsewang Rigzen, 19 years old

Where do you come from and where do you live rightnow?

I come from Gorkha District and I live in Riwoche Monastery, Kathmandu.

Can you explain some things about your background? (any brother and sisters, father and mother, their occupations…)

I have seven family members; my father, my mother, three brothers and two sisters. My father is a farmer and my mother is a housewife

How did you find out about this training program (Tibetan medicine or acupuncture)?

My uncle gave me information about this training program.

Why did you choose to join?

In my village there aren’t any doctors so I decide it to join this program.

How do you feel so far with the things that you have learnt?

I feel great with the things I have learnt.

What do you plan to do after you’ve graduated? Do you plan to practice in your village or work in Kathmandu or other areas?

When I graduate I plan to research more about this type of medicine and I want to help villagers.

How do you think that your medical knowledge will benefit your community?

I thinkmy medical Knowledge will benefit the Community because most of the doctors don’t help the villages, they usually work in cities. As a Tibetan Amchi (doctor) I will go to villages and help all the poor people.

What were you doing before joining this training?

I was studying in the school of my village.

Pema Chockey, 24 years old

Where do you come from and where do you live right now?

I am from Mugu. I live in Tinchuli.

Can you explain some things about your background? (any brother and sisters, father and mother, their occupations…)

There are five members in my family; my father and mother, two sisters and one brother. They are all farmers.

How did you find out about this training program (Tibetan medicine or acupuncture)?

Staffs of Arya Tara School informed me about this training program.

Why did you choose to join?

I chose to join it because I want to do something, which is beneficial for others.

How do you feel so far with the things that you have learnt?

I feel great with this course.

What do you plan to do after you’ve graduated? Do you plan to practice in your village or work in Kathmandu or other areas?

Actually I would love to practice in Kathmandu and villages too. Anything can happen in the future so I am not sure.

How do you think that your medical knowledge will benefit your community?

I think that my medical knowledge will benefit my community by providing them one good clinic and well prepared medicine. If the person is physically healthy he/she can do anything. The saying goes “health is wealth “.

What were you doing before joining this training?

I was studying at Arya Tara School.

Tseyang, 28 years old

Where do you come from and where do you live right now?

I am from Tibet. I live in Tinchuli.

Can you explain some things about your background? (any brother and sisters, father and mother, their occupations…)

There are seven members in my family. They are farmers.

How did you find out about this training program (Tibetan medicine or acupuncture)?

I heard about this training program from one of my aunties.

Why did you choose to join?

I have two reasons, the first one is that I want to help needy people and the other one is that I am Tibetan and this medicine is part of our culture

How do you feel so far with the things that you have learnt?

I am so happy with the things I have learnt.

What do you plan to do after you’ve graduated? Do you plan to practice in your village or work in Kathmandu or other areas?

After graduation, I will help people of remote areas but I have planned to practice in Kathmandu as well.

How do you think that your medical knowledge will benefit your community?

I think that my medical knowledge will benefit my community by giving health service and it can improve economic status because we say “health is wealth”.

What were you doing before joining this training?

I was studying in India.

Tsondrue Gyatso, 31 years old

Where do you come from and where do you live right now?

I come from Nubri and I live in the White Monastery.

Can you explain some things about your background? (any brother and sisters, father and mother, their occupations…)

I have five family members in my family. My father, my mother, a younger brother and a little sister. They are farmers.

How did you find out about this training program (Tibetan medicine or acupuncture)?

I found out about this program from elder Monks.

Why did you choose to join?

I want to help others, that’s why I chose to join it.

How do you feel so far with the things that you have learnt?

I feel wonderful with the things that I have learnt.

What do you plan to do after you’ve graduated? Do you plan to practice in your village or work in Kathmandu or other areas?

When I graduate I want to help all the people I can, specially the people from my village.

How do you think that your medical knowledge will benefit your community?

I think that our medical knowledge will benefit my community because I will be able to cure people.

What were you doing before joining this training?

I was at the White Monastery before I started this training.

Sunita Silwal, Acupuncture Student, 25 years old

Where do you come from and where do you liveright now?

I am from Lalitpur – Lele. I live in Kathmandu right now.

Can you explain some things about your background? (any brother and sisters, father and mother, their occupations…)

I have two older sisters (unmarried), one younger brother, father and mother. My mother is a housewife and my father is a farmer.

How did you find out about this training program (Tibetan medicine or acupuncture)?

I find out about this training program while taking my mum for acupuncture in Vajravarahi Healthcare clinic.

Why did you choose to join?

My mom’s thumb got better after this treatment. Afterwards, I came to know that it doesn’t have any bad effects. So in fact, it has many good results and impact on patients. So I chose to join it. Actually, I couldn’t join a medical field before because of my family’s financial problems. But I had always been interested on it.

How do you feel so far with the things that you have learnt?

I really feel very good with the things I have learnt so far and I look forward to learn more in the coming days, as we know “learning is never ending”.

What do you plan to do after you’ve graduated? Do you plan to practice in your village or work in Kathmandu or other areas?

After graduation, I plan to practice in my own village. If necessary, I would love to go to other areas too.

How do you think that your medical knowledge will benefit your community?

As we know “health is wealth” so medical knowledge is always vital. In my community, there are many people who are poor and can’t afford good health and education. I can help them by sharing my knowledge and making them aware about health.